Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual

September 2021

The child life profession is a dynamic, challenging, and often competitive Certification is a vital step for child life discipline that demands excellence from its practitioners. In traditional specialists looking to sharpen their hospital settings and beyond, child life specialists are responding to a wide professional edge. The CCLS creden- variety of complex issues by applying their unique body of knowledge and tialing program is a voluntary, rigor- skills. As child life professionals are continually challenged to demonstrate ous, examination-based professional their value and expertise to satisfy employer expectations, those individuals certification credential. The require- who have documented a basic mastery of child life theory and practice – ments for certification are based on and have the initiative to learn new skills – will become increasingly valua- academic and clinical experiences, and ble to their organizations. successful completion of the Child Life Professional Certification Examination, and are detailed herein. Why Become Certified? Contents: There are many benefits associated with becoming a Certified Child Life Spe- About Certification ...... 2 cialist: Eligibility Requirements ...... 3 • Professional Identity: Earn the exclusive right to identify yourself Coursework Requirement Detail .. 4 as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), the only credential issued in the child life profession Eligibility FAQs ...... 9 • Recognition: Achieve formal acknowledgement of your profes- Eligibility Assessment ...... 11 sional accomplishment Exam Fees ...... 13 • Advancement: Benefit from enhanced career opportunities, with Eligibility Assessment FAQs ...... 14 the potential for increased salary Exam Registration/Deadlines .... 15 • Respect: Validate your specialized knowledge and expertise to peers, management and other interdisciplinary colleagues. Testing Accommodations...... 15 • Growth: Dedicate yourself to continued professional excellence Scheduling Changes ...... 15 through education and professional development About the Exam/How to Prepare 16 • Esteem: Improve your credibility with hospital administrators and Exam Day Policies ...... 17 the general public After the Exam/Score reporting . 18 • Passion: Demonstrate your commitment to the child life profes- Retaking the Exam ...... 19 sion • Pride: Enjoy elevated self-esteem and satisfaction in your work Maintaining Certification ...... 20 Child Life Code of Ethics ...... 21 Exam Content Outline ...... 20 Forms ...... 24

Please read this document carefully! Any questions should be directed to [email protected]. Page 2 Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual

What is child life certification? How do I become a Certified Child Life Specialist?

Child life certification is the process by which, after verifi- Applicants for certification must establish eligibility be- cation that an individual has met predetermined and fore they are seated for the Child Life Professional Certi- standardized criteria, they are granted time-limited recog- fication Examination. Eligibility requirements areex- nition and use of the Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) plained on the following pages. credential. There are no exceptions made to the requirements. The Child Life Professional Certification Program is admin- Establishing eligibility for, taking and passing the Child istered by the Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC), Life Professional Certification Examination is the only Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) staff, and a way to become a Certified Child Life Specialist. professional testing agency. The program fosters uniform standards of practice and ethical conduct among child life Child Life Code of Ethics specialists. In addition, child life certification promotes protection for the general public from untrained individu- Application for the CCLS credential and maintenance als entering into an inappropriate relationship with chil- thereof require compliance with the Child Life Code of dren and families. Ethics, a body of ethical principles which is derived primarily for the benefit and protection of infants, chil- To achieve the CCLS credential, each candidate must satisfy dren, youth and families in settings where the poten- all educational and experiential requirements established tial for damaging stress or trauma exists. The Child Life by the CLCC, and must demonstrate an acceptable level of Code of Ethics may be found on page 21. knowledge of child life theory and practice by successfully completing the Child Life Professional Certification Exami- There is a process in place by which consumers and nation. The eligibility requirements for the exam are ap- others may report complaints related to the behavior- plied fairly, impartially, and consistently within applicable al conduct of CCLS credential holders on the ACLP laws, including all US government nondiscriminatory stat- website. There are also CLCC policies regarding the utes and laws. criminal background of applicants and certificants.

Those who successfully complete the exam become certi- All applicants and credential holders are required to fied for a five-year period. During this five-year cycle, acknowledge their agreement to abide by the Child CCLSs are required to pay maintenance fees, and in the Life Code of Ethics. fifth year of the cycle they must recertify, either by retaking the exam or through verification of required Professional Candidates and certificants who fail to abide by the Development Units (PDUs). code may have their certification suspended or revoked. Certification is granted independently of a candidate’s membership in ACLP.

Page 3 Eligibility Requirements Effective January 1, 2019

Effective January 1, 2019, to establish eligibility for the Child Life Professional Certification Exam, the following will be required of all candidates on or before the registration deadline for the exam administration for which they are applying:

Academic

Option 1: 1. Bachelor’s degree in any field of study -AND- 2. Coursework: must successfully complete 10 college/university courses as follows:

Child life course taught by a CCLS A minimum of 2 child development courses that cover ages birth -18 Family systems course Play course Loss/bereavement or death/dying course Research course 3 additional courses in related content areas

Additional information about the required courses can be found on the following pages

- OR -

Option 2: Degree from an ACLP-Endorsed Academic Program

*An eligibility assessment must still be completed—additional instructions can be found on page 11

Clinical

Applicants are required to complete a minimum of 600 hours of a child life clinical internship under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist who: • Maintains professional child life certification throughout the supervisory period • Has a minimum of 4,000 hours of paid child life clinical experience prior to the start of the supervisory period • Takes responsibility for the educational development and guidance of the candidate in the clinical setting Page 4 Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual

Required Coursework Details

• For each of the 10 required courses, it is recommended that students take a 3-credit course or the equivalent to have an appropriate depth of instruction. • A minimum of one full course must be completed for each of the required areas of study. (A minimum of two courses are required for the child development requirement.) • In order for a course to count, the required content must be the primary focus. • All points within the Required Content section of each course must be covered within the course. Appli- cants may not use the same course to meet 2 or more of these requirements. • Applicants are required to submit university-generated course descriptions when applying for an Eligibil- ity Assessment. • Applicants must be prepared to provide university-generated syllabi if requested. • Due to the limited involvement of the instructor in the curriculum being studied and uncertainty about whether it was equivalent to a traditional course, independent study courses are generally not accepted to fulfill the course work requirements needed to establish eligibility for the certification exam.

1. Child Life Required Child Life Content: • A minimum of 3 credit hours or unit equivalency is recommended. • There are 6 required areas of study that must be covered in this course. • All 6 areas must be addressed. • More than 1 course may be needed to fulfill this requirement. • The following content must be taught by a Certified Child Life Specialist® (CCLS) who meets the requirements below.

 Official Documents of ACLP/CLCC  Family Centered Care  Scope of Practice  Therapeutic Play  Impact of Illness  Preparation

Instructor Requirements: • Hold/maintain the CCLS credential throughout the period of instruction • A minimum of 4,000 hours of paid child life clinical experience OR a minimum of two years of experience teaching child life subject matter* • Maintains knowledge of the Association of Child Life Professionals Child Life Code of Ethics and the Offi- cial Documents of the Association of Child Life Professionals • Pursue training relevant to adult learning styles and evidence-based teaching methodology

*CCLS must be able to demonstrate that the two years of teaching experience was completed prior to 2022. Begin- ning in 2022, those without prior teaching experiences who wish to initiate a child life course will only be considered qualified if they have a minimum of 4,000 hours of paid child life clinical experience Page 5

2. Child Development: Required Content: Typical child growth and development including theoretical content for children and adolescents (birth - 18-years old)

Required Number of Courses: • At least two courses that focus curriculum on typical growth and development (not atypical) and cumulatively cover child development from birth to 18 years. • A minimum of 3 credit hours or unit equivalency for each course is recommended.

Example 1 One course on children Birth – 8 (early childhood) -AND- One course on children 9-18 (middle childhood and adoles- cence) Example 2 One course on early childhood (birth-8 years), -AND- One course on middle childhood (9-12 years), -AND- One course on adolescent (13-18 years). Example 3 One course on development birth – 18 -AND- One course on infant, school age, or adolescent development Example 4 Two courses on development birth – 18 (Not Recommended)

Clarifications: • More than 2 courses may be needed to fulfill this requirement. • If any portion of this age span is not covered, additional courses must be taken. • Course titles must contain the words “child” (infant, toddler, middle, latent, adolescent) and “development” and indicate the age range covered by the course. Applicants submitting courses that do not follow this scheme may be required to submit additional information such as course syllabi. • Courses covering the lifespan of development are not accepted due to the limited amount of time and content allocated for children birth–18 years old. • Courses focusing on adults or seniors are not accepted.

Page 6 Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual

3. Family Systems: Required Content: Content must focus on a systems approach to understanding families (e.g. an ecological approach or Family Systems Theory) Required Number of Courses: One course is required A minimum of 3 credit hours or unit equivalency is recommended Recommended Components: Historical and contemporary theories related to family structure and functions Family dynamics including broader societal perspectives of diversity and cultural variance Family relationships and the dynamics of family life Adaptations in family structure and interaction patterns during times of transition Adult-child interactions and family roles Exploration of current research and theory as it applies to family systems

4. Play: Required Content: This course must focus on the therapeutic aspects and/or learning objectives of play in infants, children, youth, and young adults. Required Number of Courses: One course is required A minimum of 3 credit hours or unit equivalency is recommended Recommended Components: Classical and contemporary theories on play Play as an essential element for children’s growth, development, and learning Influence of play environments on children’s play

Acceptable Curricula: • Observing, assessing, and using play to make judgments about children’s learning • Play as the primary vehicle and indicator of physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development of children • Play principles and values • Structuring therapeutic play sessions • Creativity and play • Guidance of play • Play, curriculum and program development • Art, music, and play for early childhood education*

• Concepts of leisure, play and recreation*

*Courses that cover all stages of childhood (birth to 18) and non-recreational therapy courses are preferred. Coursework NOT Accepted: Courses from the college/university department of physical education are NOT accepted. Page 7

5. Loss/Bereavement or Death/Dying: Required Content: Foundations of loss, bereavement, and/or death/dying Required Number of Courses: One course is required A minimum of 3 credit hours or unit equivalency is recommended Recommended Components: Historical, current, cultural, spiritual, and religious perspectives Topics including ambiguous loss, transitions, palliative care, self-awareness & self-care Inclusion of content focused on impacts to children and families is recommended Courses on aging are not accepted

6. Research: Required Content: Basic research methods, statistics, and outcomes that apply to clinical practice and program review.

Required Number of Courses: • One course is required • A minimum of 3 credit hours or unit equivalency is recommended Recommended Components: • Foundational research literacy and research ethics • Introductory approaches to research – quantitative, qualitative, action research, and analysis • Introduction to knowledge translation and dissemination of research outcomes impacting clinical practice program review • Introduction to the integral role of research in evidenced-based practice. • Research processes of data collection, evaluation, literature review, knowledge translation

Please note: Courses with “research” in the title will be accepted.

Joining the Association of Child Life Professionals

Although ACLP membership is not required in order to be certified, ACLP Membership makes sense! By joining ACLP and taking advantage of significant discounts on certification fees and study materials, candidates will benefit from savings that will more than make up for the cost of the first year of membership.

For more information on ACLP membership, please visit the ACLP website. Page 8 Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual

7. Additional Coursework: Required Content: Child life or a closely related subject Required Number of Courses: • Three courses are required • A minimum of 3 credit hours or unit equivalency per course is recommended

Recommended Courses: It is highly recommended that applicants complete these courses in the following content areas:

• Ethics • Human Anatomy and Physiology • Medical Terminology Additional Coursework Options: Applicants who do not complete additional course work in the areas listed above will be required to take three courses from one or more of the following college/university departments:

• Child Life • Child Development • Counseling • Expressive Therapies (only courses that cover the therapeutic applications of play, music, dance, and art will be accepted; fine arts courses are NOT accepted) • Family Development • Family Dynamics • Human Development • Psychology • Therapeutic Recreation

Coursework Options Requiring a Syllabus: Courses from the following areas of study or departments will be accepted only if the course content (as demonstrated by the course syllabus) is closely related to child life.

• Sociology • Social Work • Nursing • Early Childhood Education • Special Education • Human Services • Marriage and Family Therapy • Allied Health • Family Studies Coursework NOT Accepted: Courses in Recreation Administration Page 9 Frequently Asked Questions General

I was previously certified, but my certification lapsed Do I need a degree in child life to obtain certification? or expired. Am I still eligible to take the exam? Candidates are not required to obtain a degree in child All candidates must meet the current eligibility re- life in order to be eligible to take the Child Life Profes- quirements regardless of past certification status. sional Certification Exam. Candidate’s bachelor’s degree CCLSs whose certification has lapsed or expired must can be completed in any field of study. re-establish eligibility by starting the application process anew. They must complete an eligibility assess- If I’m still in school working on my bachelor’s degree, ment, documenting the completion of the current eli- can I take the exam? gibility requirements. register for the exam, pay the All applicants are required to successfully complete exam fee, and successfully complete the examination. their bachelor’s degree on or before the registration I have already established eligibility under the previ- deadline for the exam for which they are applying. Ap- ous requirements, but didn’t take (or pass) the exam. plications from students anticipating graduation are not What do I need to submit in order to register for the accepted. exam again? All candidates must meet the current eligibility re- Course Work quirements regardless of past eligibility status. They must complete a new eligibility assessment, docu- Do the required courses have to be taken for college credit? menting the completion of the current eligibility re- Yes. Non-credit or audited courses are not accepted. quirements. register for the exam, pay the exam fee, Do the required courses have to be taken as part of a degree and successfully complete the examination. program? The required courses can be taken as part of or in addition to a Am I required to be a member of the Association of degree program. Check with the college/university about en- Child Life Professionals to be eligible for certifica- rollment requirements. tion? Do the required courses have to be 3-credit classes? Candidates for certification are not required to be No. While it is recommended that applicants have at least members of the Association of Child Life Profession- credit hours or unit equivalency per course, there is no mini- als .However, ACLP members receive discounted rates mum number of credit hours per class at this time. on publications to prepare for the exam, examination fees, and certification fees once certified. Where can I take the required courses? Courses meeting the requirement may be taken at any college or university that has been accredited by an organization that is Degree recognized by either the US Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation or the international Do I need to obtain a master’s degree to become cer- equivalent. tified? Can the required courses be taken online? Candidates are required to have a minimum of a bach- Yes. Courses may be taken either in-person or online. elor’s degree. The previously-announced requirement for a master’s degree in 2022 was rescinded. A mas- Am I required to take any child life-specific courses? ter’s degree is not required. Yes, all candidates must complete at least one child life course, and that course must be taught by a Certified Child Life Specialist. There are six required areas of study that must be covered. See page 4 For further details. Page 10

Why am I required to take a child life course? that the applicant received instruction from a CCLS in each of the re- CLCC seeks to ensure that individuals pursuing a career in quired topics of study. child life will be proficient in their future practice by requiring an academic background that includes knowledge I’m taking my internship for college credit. Can this count as my child life course taught by a CCLS? essential to child life practice. Academic courses that pre- No. A child life internship or practicum taken for college credit cannot pare, support, and provide a solid academic and practical be used to satisfy this requirement. Candidates must have BOTH an foundation for students allow them to build a foundation internship AND a child life course taught by a CCLS in order to estab- of knowledge in the core competencies of child life. lish eligibility for the exam.

Why does the child life course have to be taught by a Cer- I took my child life course a while ago and don’t have a Child Life tified Child Life Specialist? Course Verification Form. Can I still use the course to establish eligi- When preparing students for areas of specialty such as bility? child life, having content experts providing instruction is of Without verification, courses cannot be used to meet the requirement great value. Those who have earned the CCLS credential for a child life course taught by a CCLS. However, they may count toward the other nine courses that are required. have demonstrated a level of expertise in child life that helps make them uniquely suitable to instruct aspiring I am enrolled in classes, but they won’t be complete before the reg- child life practitioners. istration deadline for the exam I want to take. Can I establish eligibility in anticipation of completing the required courses? Can the child life course be co-taught by a non-CCLS? No. All of the required course work must be complete on or before No. All instruction must be provided by a CCLS. the exam registration deadline for the administration for which candidates are applying. If any of the required courses are not complete How do I find a child life course taught by a CCLS? by that date, applicants must wait for a future exam date. Completion The required course may be completed at any fully- must be documented on an official transcript on or prior to the regis- accredited academic institution provided the required cur- tration deadline. riculum and instructor requirements are met. There is a self-identified list of institutions offering a child life course I don’t know if the classes I’ve taken will count; can my transcript be taught by a CCLS on the ACLP website. ACLP/CLCC is not reviewed? responsible for, nor does it endorse, the content or quality The Eligibility Assessment is the vehicle used to review a candidate’s of any of these courses. Prospective students are encour- progress toward meeting the eligibility requirements including the aged to directly contact programs in which they are inter- course work requirement. In-progress courses are not re- ested for specific information. viewed. ACLP staff will continue to review courses only until 10 have

Do I have to submit a transcript for the child life course in been approved. Submission of each course from a transcript is dis- addition to the Child Life Course Verification Form? couraged as it is unlikely that they will all be reviewed. Yes, the child life course must appear on an official college/university transcript with a passing grade and the applicant must request verification through the Eligibility Assessment online process or provide the Child Life Course Verification Form (see the end of this document) signed by the instructor showing that all six required topics of study were covered.

My child life course did not cover all of the six required topics. What do I need to do? Academic programs may choose to provide coverage of the six topics in more than one course as long as each course covering the areas is taught by a CCLS. In such cases, the digital verification process that is part of the Eligi- bility Assessment or a Child Life Course Verification Form must be submitted for each course, providing confirmation Page 11 Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual Clinical Experience

How do I get the clinical experience? completed 600 hours by the exam registration deadline, they As the certifying body for child life specialists, CLCC is limited must wait and apply for another exam administration. Clinical as to the level of assistance we can provide for internship experience must be verified on or prior to the registration dead- placement. We encourage candidates to contact facilities line. directly to locate programs and to determine if they are qualified for placement. It is the prerogative of the hiring institu- Does my internship have to be completed in a hospital? tion to set the requirements for internship positions, which A portion of the required hours must be completed in a hospital vary among institutions and may include things that are not setting. There is no minimum. Remaining hours may be earned in required by CLCC. other types of healthcare settings.

Can I use hours that I have worked as a child life specialist Can I obtain the hours at more than one site? or child life assistant to meet the clinical experience re- Yes. If an institution is offering a term shorter than 600 hours, quirement? then the candidate will need to acquire additional hours at anoth- The required clinical experience hours must be earned er facility. Verification of the hours must be obtained from each through a child life internship. Paid work experience is no site where the clinical training is completed. longer accepted to meet this requirement.

Can I use hours that I have worked with children outside Do the clinical hours I completed in the past still count? the child life profession to meet the clinical experience re- Yes, provided that the hours meet the current requirements and quirement? can be verified by a CCLS supervisor. Other types of clinical experience may not be substituted for PLEASE NOTE: The Clinical Experience Verification Form (see final any portion of the clinical hours. All hours must be obtained through an internship in child life. pages of this document) has been revised. Older versions of the Clinical Experience Verification Form do not include all of the nec- What if my internship ends after the exam registration essary elements to establish eligibility under current require- deadline? ments. A minimum of 600 hours must be completed on or before the exam registration deadline. If the internship is longer than Prior to 2006, supervisors were not required to meet a minimum 600 hours, CLCC does not require that the internship be com- number of paid child life work experience hours. If a candidate pleted by the deadline. Ultimately it is left to the internship was deemed eligible prior to 2006 using clinical experience under supervisor’s discretion to verify the hours prior to the conclu- a supervisor who does not meet the new requirements, they for- sion of the internship. However, if a candidate will not have feited their eligibility effective January 1, 2006.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ELIGIBILITY ASSESSMENT

The Eligibility Assessment Service is part of an updated two-step exam application process.

Step 1 - Eligibility Assessment AND Step 2 - Exam Registration

In step 1, applicants log into their profile, pay a non-refundable fee for the Eligibility Assessment, and immediately begin entering their eligibility information, including course work. During this period, applicants are able to save their work and return to their application at any time to monitor their progress towards eligibility. Because many child life internship programs require applicants to document that they have met the academic requirements, a report is available for the applicant to print at any time during the Eligibility Assessment period.

Once eligibility is established, the applicant’s status will change to “candidate,” and they may proceed to step 2 - paying the sepa- rate exam fee and registering for an exam administration.

The Eligibility Assessment Fee is a one-time fee if the candidate successfully completes the examination prior to any changes to the eligibility requirements. However, if the requirements change, the candidate’s status will return to “applicant” pending a new assessment (an additional fee applies). Page 12

Completing the Eligibility Assessment

Applicants are required to complete an Eligibility Assess- c. Enter the requested information and click on Save. ment, and once eligibility is established, to register for the d. From here you may add more courses by selecting Add examination. Another Credit; or, Return to Transcript will take you to your Evaluation Report. Because the Eligibility Assessment is an ongoing process, applicants may leave any requirements blank that have yet 2. Enter information for verification regarding the child life to be completed and return later to fill out those sections course taught by a CCLS as the requirements are completed. a. From the Certification Portal, click on Child Life Course Ver- 1. Login (or create a new customer record) to your ACLP ification. online profile at www.childlife.org. b. Enter the requested information and click on Save and 2. Click on Certification Continue. 3. Click on Certification Portal c. Enter your instructor's name in the box provided or click on 4. Click on Request an Eligibility Assessment the icon on the far left of the box to open a dialog box that 5. Click on Save and Continue will allow you to search for your instructor's name. It may 6. Select Payment Type take 1-2 minutes for the system to search the database for 7. Enter your credit card information the instructor’s name. 8. Click on Submit Payment d. Click on Next. e. Confirm the information entered and click on Submit Your The following three parts of the Eligibility Assessment Application. Doing so will send an email to your instructor may be completed in any order: requesting that they verify the information submitted.

1. Enter degree/course work information Please remember that you must submit an official transcript* in order for degree and coursework information to a. Click on Enter degree and courses for review. be reviewed. b. Select the credit type – either degree or courses – and click on Continue. ACLP staff will continue to review courses only until 10 have

*OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS

Once you have submitted your eligibility information, please send your official transcripts to our office. · If a university provides official transcripts digitally, they can be emailed to [email protected] directly from the institution. · If your institution does not provide the digital option for official transcripts, please mail the transcripts to: Certification, Association of Child Life Professionals, 7600 Leesburg Pike West, Ste 200, Falls Church, VA 22043 Note: · CLCC does not accept fax or email transmission of transcripts from applicants since this transmission automatically renders them "unofficial.” · CLCC does not accept unofficial transcripts that have been printed by the applicant from the university website. · You will be notified via email when your official transcripts have been received in our office. You may then expect to see results on your Evaluation Report on your online profile approximately 2—3 weeks. · If the name that will appear on your official transcripts does not match the name on your Eligibility Assessment, please provide us with a verification of your name change such as a copy of a marriage license. This documentation may be faxed, emailed or mailed to our office. Page 13 Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual

been approved. Submission of each course from a tran- 1. Bachelor’s Degree Documentation Required: script is discouraged as it is unlikely that they will all be reviewed. An original OFFICIAL* transcript from the college/university confer- ring the degree, which shows the type of degree granted and the 3. Enter clinical experience for verification date conferred. Please confirm that the transcript is issued after the date the degree was conferred.

a. Click on Clinical Work Verification. 2. Course Work Documentation Required: b. Enter the requested information and click on Save and Continue. Applicants must request verification through the Eligibility Assess- ment online process or provide the Child Life Course Verification c. Enter your supervisor's name in the box provided or Form signed by the CCLS instructor showing that all six required top- click on the icon on the far left of the box to ics of study were covered. open a dialog box that will allow you to search for your AND supervisor's name. It may take 1-2 minutes for the sys- An OFFICIAL* transcript from each college or university where the tem to search the database for the instructor’s name. course work was completed. d. Click on Next. • All 10 courses including the child life course must appear on the e. Confirm the information entered and click on Submit transcript(s) with a passing grade. Your Application. Doing so will send an email to your • No in-progress courses will be accepted. supervisor requesting that they verify the information • Transferred courses from another school must have a passing submitted. grade listed on the transcript or be documented by another OFFI- CIAL* transcript from the original college/university. • Online courses must be reflected on an OFFICIAL* transcript with Only clinical experience that has been completed can be a passing grade. verified. If you are currently completing your internship, please wait until it is completed to start this process. *NOTE: “OFFICIAL” is defined by each college/university; for details, please check with the school’s Registrar’s Office. Faxed and Providing Supporting Documentation photocopied transcripts are not accepted. Emailed transcripts are only accepted if sent directly by the academic institution and are All candidates are required to send supporting docu- considered official by the school. mentation needed to establish eligibility. 3. Clinical Experience Documentation Required: Documentation presented in a foreign language must be translated into English, at the applicant’s expense, by Applicants must request verification of their clinical experience a professional translation agent with a notarized signa- through the Eligibility Assessment online process or provide the Clin- ture or stamp attesting to the accuracy of the contents. ical Experience Verification Form signed by the CCLS supervisor veri- fying that a minimum of 600 hours of child life clinical training was We strongly encourage candidates to send any sup- completed. If hours were earned at multiple sites, verification of the porting documentation using a delivery method that hours must be obtained from each site. will provide them with receipt confirmation. Applicants may use their receipt to confirm that their materials Please note that previous, outdated versions of the Clinical Experi- ence Verification Form do not include all of the necessary elements were successfully delivered to our office. to establish eligibility under current requirements, and will not be Applicants are required to submit the following: accepted.

Examination Fees*

ACLP Members Non-members

$300.00 U.S. $450.00 U.S.

*As of publication date; all fees are subject to change. Page 14 Eligibility Assessment Frequently Asked Questions How do I get my course work reviewed? How do I submit transcripts? The Eligibility Assessment is the vehicle used to re- If your university provides digital versions of official transcripts, these view an applicant’s progress toward meeting the eli- may be emailed to [email protected] directly from your institu- gibility requirements (including course work). tion.

Applicants pay a fee* to initiate an Eligibility Assess- If your institution does not provide the digital option ment and submit information and materials for official transcripts, please mail the transcripts to ACLP, (including official transcripts and other verification 7600 Leesburg Pike West, Ste 200, Falls Church, VA 22043 documents) as the requirements for establishing exam eligibility are completed. Once all steps in the CLCC does not accept faxed or emailed transcripts from applicants since Eligibility Assessment have been completed, the ap- this transmission automatically renders them "unofficial.” plicant is granted access to register for an upcoming exam. CLCC does not accept unofficial transcripts that have been downloaded by the applicant from the university website. *If the eligibility requirements change, a second payment of this fee will be required as a new assessment If the name that appears on your official transcripts is different than that must be opened. on the Eligibility Assessment, please provide us with a verification of name change such as a copy of a marriage license. This documentation When can I expect “results”/updates? may be faxed, emailed or mailed to our office. You will be notified via email when your official transcripts have been received in our office. You Do I have to do an Eligibility Assessment if I did a course work review? may then expect to see results on your Evaluation Yes, all course work must be submitted as part of an eligibility assess- Report on your online profile in approximately 2—3 ment. The discontinued course work review service was an optional. weeks. You may print and disburse the Evaluation informal process by which individuals gauged their progress toward the Report at any time. completion of the 10 course requirement; versus the current eligibility assessment wherein the applicant establishes eligibility for the exam. What about courses “in progress?” Only those courses that appear on an official tran- If you establish eligibility to sit for the exam… script with a passing grade will be reviewed for ac- ceptance as part of an Eligibility Assessment. Any “in progress” courses will appear as ineligible but you Candidates will be notified by email if eligibility has been established. may provide updated official transcripts once they They are then given access to register for an upcoming exam administra- become available and those courses will be re- tion window. evaluated. Candidates will subsequently be contacted by ACLP’s testing agency My instructor has verified my CL course but it still with information about how to schedule the exam at the testing center appears as ineligible on my report. Why? and on the date preferred. Your Child Life Course, while verified by your instructor, has not been reviewed or accepted because we Candidates are permitted to choose a date within the testing window have not yet reviewed an official transcript docu- based on the appointment schedule of the testing center selected. Can- menting successful completion of the course. Course didates may only take the exam 1 time during a testing window. work, including the child life course is not “eligible” until staff has reviewed official transcripts and con- After scheduling the exam, candidates will have the opportunity to save firmed that the submitted course work has been and print an admission document which must be presented at the completed with a passing grade. testing center on the day of the exam.

Eligibility Appeals Process Documents submitted will not be returned. Please keep copies of all Candidates who are unable to establish eligibility may appeal the deci- sion by submitting a letter to the Certification Commission stating the materials submitted reason for the appeal. for your records . The request for appeal must be accompanied by any supporting documentation the applicant wishes to submit. Page 15 Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual

Registering for the certification exam To apply, please complete the Special Accommodations Packet. Requests for special accommodations must be included at the time

you register for the exam in order to be considered. To ensure Once a candidate has established eligibility, they are adequate time for review, applicants requesting special testing given access to register for the certification exam. accommodations must establish eligibility and register for the exam two weeks prior to the registration deadline. Please note that candidates are required to register a minimum of five days prior to the start of the exam administration window. It is recommended that candi- Withdrawals and Scheduling Changes dates apply as soon as possible as the schedule at the desired testing center may fill up quickly. See below for Can I withdraw from the examination? the exam registration deadlines. Withdrawal requests must be RECEIVED by 11:59 PM eastern time a minimum of five days prior to the start of the testing window Testing Window Registration Deadline for which the candidate is scheduled. Requests received after this date will not be honored and the candidate will forfeit the entire examination fee. March 15-30 March 10

Requests must include the approved test administration window August 15-30 August 10 (month and year) and the applicant’s name and signature.

November 1-15 October 27 Examination fees will be refunded (less a $50.00 US processing fee). The candidate must establish eligibility for any future exam admin- To register online: istration. 1. Log into your online profile 2. Click “Visit Profile” under the log in boxes Can I defer my application to another administration? Deferral requests must be RECEIVED by 11:59 PM eastern time a 3. Click on Event/Webinar Registration minimum of five days prior to the start of the testing window for 4. Select the desired test administration window which the candidate is scheduled. Requests received after this 5. Click on Register date will not be honored and the candidate will forfeit the entire 6. Follow the on-screen instructions examination fee.

After registering for the exam, our testing partner will The candidate must continue to meet all eligibility requirements in contact you with information necessary to schedule the place for the new exam administration. exam. Please note that you must schedule the exam a minimjum of 5 days prior to the desired testing date. Requests must include the approved test administration window (month and year), the desired test administration window (month and year), and the applicant’s name and signature. Special Testing Accommodations There is a $50 US processing fee for each administration change. All examination sites are fully accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Special testing accommodations require documentation and are sched- IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT SCHEDULING CHANGES: uled subject to approval upon review of the required If you have received login information from our testing vendor documentation. Candidates for whom English is a for- and/or scheduled the exam through their website you must eign language and/or those with a visual, orthopedic, contact BOTH ACLP and SMT directly to make any scheduling speech or hearing impairment, other health or physical changes. impairment, a specific learning disability, or a psycholog- ical or mental disorder that requires modifications to SMT may elect to charge a fee for schedule modifications in the usual testing environment can apply for special ac- addition to any fees ACLP charges. commodations. Only those candidates who have been granted this approval in advance will receive special If you wish to reschedule the exam within the same testing accommodations during testing. window and you do not contact SMT at least five days prior to

the day you are scheduled to take the exam, you will forfeit the entire examination fee. Page 16

Examination Format and Content How to Prepare—Recommended Resources

The Child Life Professional Certification Examination is com- The following are references that cover the basic concepts in child prised of 150 multiple-choice questions. The allotted time to life theory and practice. These references are used to validate the complete the examination is four hours. content of the Child Life Professional Certification Exam. Most are

The following is a listing of the domains specific to each area available through the Bookstore section of the ACLP website. of child life practice, with a notation of the percentage of examination items (questions) related to each domain. This 1. Psychosocial Care of Children in Hospitals: A Clinical Practice is taken from the Exam Content Outline and although the Manual Gaynard, et al. (1998) actual content varies from administration to administration, 2. Meeting Children’s Psychosocial Needs Across the Healthcare all exams follow this blueprint. Continuum Rollins, Bolig, & Mahan (2018)

DOMAIN # QUESTIONS % OF EXAM 3. The Handbook of Child Life Thompson (2018) 4. Child Life in Hospitals: Theory and Practice Thompson & Stan- I. Professional 30 20% ford (1981) Responsibility 5. A Child in Pain: What Health Professionals Can Do to Help Kutt-

II. Assessment 60 40% ner (2012) 6. Guidelines for the Development of Child Life Programs Child

III. Intervention 60 40% Life Council (2006)

7. Official Documents of the Child Life Council Child Life Council The Child Life Professional Certification Examination is an objective test that covers relevant knowledge, understand- (2002) ing, and practical application of child life theory and practice 8. Evidence-Based Practice Statements; available in the Resource as determined by the Child Life Certification Commission and Library at www.childlife.org other Certified Child Life Specialists surveyed. The exam is 9. Making Ethical Decisions in Child Life Practice Child Life Council developed by a committee of experts in the child life profession as a measurement of basic, entry-level knowledge of (2000) each candidate. 10. Child Life Beyond the Hospital Child Life Council (2008)

The committee starts with a periodic Practice Analysis which 11. Therapeutic activities for children and teens coping with health defines the profession of child life by delineating the domain, issues Hart & Rollins (2011) tasks, knowledge and skills necessary for competent practice 12. Volunteers in child health: management, selection, training, & as a child life specialist. From this assessment, content areas supervision. Kiely (1992) and their appropriate relative emphases are defined. A survey of child life practitioners validates the content outline. 13. How to Help Children through a Parent’s Serious Illness McCue & Bonn (2011) Of the 150 questions on the exam, 25 are pretest items and are not weighted (not counted toward candidates’ scores). 14. Any normal growth and development textbook Piloting items in this manner allows items to be analyzed before they become weighted and provides verification that This list was updated November 2018. the items contribute toward measuring a candidate’s profi- ciency in the material and are not irrelevant or poorly- written. Candidates answer the pretest items, and then performance data is used in a statistical analysis to determine if the questions perform as intended. If so, their ability to con- This document and any updates are available on tribute to a test’s quality is verified and they can be consid- the Association of Child Life Professionals ered for inclusion on future exams as scored items. website at: www.childlife.org Each form of the Child Life Professional Certification Exami- nation is equated to ensure that candidates are neither pe- nalized nor rewarded if an exam form is more difficult or Any questions regarding the content of the easier than any other version of the exam. Collecting perfor- Candidate Manual should be addressed to: mance data enables the test administration agency to conduct this important process. [email protected].

For more detailed information about how the exam is developed and how it is scored, please visit the ACLP website. Page 17

Exam Day Instructions What NOT To Bring Exam appointments are made based on the oper- guaranteed at every location. Neither ACLP nor CLCC is responsible for ating schedule of the testing center selected by the the security of any personal possessions brought to the examination. candidate.

During the Examination Candidates have four hours in which to complete

the exam. At the discretion of the site administra- No food or beverages (including water) will be allowed in the testing tor, candidates may be admitted to the examina- room unless prior approval has been received for medical reasons. Can- tion up to 20 minutes late. Late arrivals will be re- didates must submit a Special Accommodations Application Packet to quired to sign a statement acknowledging that they request this approval. will receive no extra time to complete the exam.

Candidates may exit the testing room to use the restroom or water What To Bring fountain. Only one person will be permitted to leave the room at a time. Candidates will not be permitted to make up the time lost while Personal Identification away from the examination. If candidates wish to use the restroom,

To gain admittance to the examination room, all they should raise their hand and the proctor will give further directions. candidates are required to present a government- issued photo identification. Acceptable forms of There is an inherent risk of connectivity issues with computer-based identification include a valid driver’s license, pass- testing. Candidates who experience technical difficulties that affect port, or military identification card. their performance must report these to the proctor immediately (prior to receiving their exam result) and contact SMT immediately after leav- Admissions Document ing the testing center to report the problem.

At the time candidates schedule their exam appointment, the testing agency will provide an ad- Any concerns about the testing site and/or proctors should be reported missions document to each examinee. In order to immediately and noted on the exit survey at the end of the examina- be admitted to the exam, candidates are required tion/prior to receipt of the exam results. to present this document at the testing center on the day of their appointment. Examination Day Absences

If a candidate has been pre-approved for special Refunds will only be approved if the absence is the result of a docu- testing accommodations, candidate should present mented personal or medical emergency. Absences are reviewed by the the confirmation e-mail sent by CLCC indicating the committee on a case-by-case basis. Refund requests must be received accommodations that have been approved to en- in writing with supporting documentation detailing the reason for ab- sure that the appropriate testing accommodations sence within 14 days of the examination date. CLCC reserves the right to are made onsite. verify any information submitted regarding examination day absence. If

Other the absence is excused, payment for the exam will be refunded, less a $50 U.S. application processing fee, or may be deferred to the next test This document and any updates are available on Earplugs for sound suppression are allowed. Head- phones and ear buds are not permitted. administration in accordance with the policies herein. Please bring as few personal belongings as possible. Inclement Weather If severe weather or natural disaster makes the testing center inaccessi- Books (including all types of dictionaries), papers, ble or unsafe, the test administration may be canceled. Test administra- electronic/cellular devices (pagers, telephones, tion will be delayed or canceled only in emergencies. etc.), food, water bottles and most other personal belongings will NOT be permitted at your testing Candidates who cannot safely reach the test site because of severe station. Some testing centers have lockers for ex- weather conditions and wish to request a refund of the examination fee, aminees’ use during the exam however this is not Page 18 Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual must send the written request with documentation of the weather notified if there is a change to your score. Once your results conditions to CLCC within 14 days of the scheduled examination are posted in your ACLP Online User Profile, they are consid- date. CLCC will evaluate the circumstances on a case-by-case ba- ered final. sis. The purpose of the Child Life Professional Certification Exam is Exam Feedback to measure an individual’s performance compared to a specific criterion (the established passing score as defined by Examinees will be given the opportunity to comment on the ex- subject matter experts), this is called a criterion-referenced amination administration, content, or any of its elements prior to exam. This type of exam is not intended to measure a range leaving the examination room. Exam proctors will provide instruc- of levels of competence, but rather to confirm that an indi- tion on this process. Candidates with concerns about the accuracy vidual meets a minimum level of competence. Like most of specific exam questions must provide this feedback prior to credentialing exams, the objective of the Child Life Profes- leaving the testing room. Since CLCC constantly works to improve sional Certification Exam is to measure candidates’ compre- the testing process, candidates are strongly encouraged to pro- hension of the body of knowledge identified in the Practice vide feedback on the exam prior to leaving the testing room. Analysis Study, not to compare it with that of other candidates. Examination Security The goal of criterion-referenced assessments is to measure Any candidate who gives or receives assistance, or whose behav- performance most precisely in a narrow range near the pass- ior is disruptive during the examination, will be required to leave ing score. The more precise the exam is in this range, the less the testing room immediately. The candidate’s answers will not be suitable it is for assessing aptitude at levels above/below the scored and the situation will be reported to CLCC for review and passing score. As a result it would be inappropriate to use possible action by the Ethics Committee. Any candidate who ob- test scores to rank individuals. serves inappropriate test taking behavior should report it to appropriate testing personnel. In order to detect fraud, the perfor- For this reason, CLCC does not release test scores above the mance of all candidates is monitored and analyzed statistically. passing score. If a candidate reaches or exceeds the passing score, they will not receive their numerical score, only the The entire item (question) bank, examination materials and each information that they have passed the exam. This is done in form of the examination are the property of the Association of part to prevent the improper ranking of individuals by stake- Child Life Professionals Inc. Distribution of exam content or mate- holders such as prospective employers. Candidates who do rials through any form of reproduction, including oral and written not meet the cut score will receive their numerical scaled communication, is strictly prohibited and punishable by law. Any score as well as the percentage of correct answers they pro- individual who removes or attempts to remove examination mate- vided for each of the three domains. This information is pro- rial from the test site will be prosecuted; this includes memoriza- vided to help candidates focus their studies for future exami- tion of questions. nations.

Test development and security requirements prevent CLCC from Confidentiality releasing test questions or other specific exam content to anyone, under any circumstances. Registration for the Child Life Professional Certification Examination constitutes authorization for the testing Discussion of exam content with other candidates following the agency to release that candidate’s exam results to CLCC, exam is considered a breach of examination security and is not ACLP staff, and to the candidate only. Access to score permitted. reports is limited to those staff members at ACLP and its After the Exam/Score Reporting test administration agency who are involved in the pro- duction and distribution of these reports. You will receive a preliminary score report before leaving the testing center. The scores will be subjected to a statistical analysis and there is a very slight chance that they will change. You will be Page 19

Only group performance data will be utilized by CLCC, ACLP Staff, ACLP’s test administration agency or others designated by the CLCC for purposes of research, development and reporting to the profession.

I Didn’t Pass the Exam – What Are My Options?

Re-Examination Procedures

Candidates can only take the exam once per testing window. Three test forms will be available each year. Therefore, candidates are allowed to sit for the examination three times per year and will be administered a different test form with each attempt. After three attempts, a candidate must skip an administration (testing window) of the examination. If they fail a fourth time, candidates must skip another administration of the examination prior to taking a fifth time. When a candidate is required to skip an examination administration, the candidate is encouraged to seek out learning opportunities and coursework to gain further information regarding the child life profession and skills. If eligibility requirements have changed since the last examination attempt, a candidate must reestablish eligibility prior to retaking the examination. Candidates are limited to taking the examination 5 times. Additional attempts require the approval of the Appeals Committee.

Examination Appeals

Only appeals relating to the testing environment or administration and its effect on candidate performance will be considered.

A candidate must submit a letter to CLCC stating the reason for the appeal, including supporting documentation, within 14 days of the date on which the exam was administered.

The Appeals Committee has no access to examination questions or individual candidate answers. Candidates with concerns about the accuracy of specific exam questions must provide this feedback prior to leaving the testing room.

Candidates who experience technical difficulties that affect their performance during computer-based testing must report these to the proctor immediately (prior to receiving their exam scores) and contact SMT immediately after leaving the testing center to report the problem.

Certification will not be granted through appeal. Candidates must pass the examination at another administration to become certified, but the CLCC may grant a waiver or reduction of fees. Page 20 Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual

Congratulations! You’re a Certified Child Life Specialist! Recertification

Candidates who successfully complete the Child Life Professional Certification Exami- In the fifth year of the certification cycle, nation begin a five-year certification cycle as Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLSs). CCLSs must recertify in order to continue their certification. Recertification is required Certified Child Life Specialists are permitted to use the initials “CCLS” after their in order to promote continuing competence. names. CCLS is a registered certification mark. It is not punctuated with periods. As the child life profession continues to

Certified Child Life Specialist is a credential, not a job title, and can only be used by evolve and expand, it is imperative that child those who have passed the certification exam. life specialists keep abreast of current research and best practices in order to pro- Shortly after the testing window closes, you will receive a wall certificate along with mote competency and consistent quality in important information on maintaining the CCLS credential. Please be sure to review the delivery of psychosocial care to children this material carefully as well as the Child Life Professional Certification Maintenance and families. and Recertification Manual.

Maintaining Certification These are current policies During the year in which a and are subject to change. CCLS’s certification expires, In order to keep their certification status active, CCLSs are Please refer to the detailed CLCC will send recertification required to pay a certification maintenance fee each of the reminders via email. CCLSs information about maintain- first four years of the five-year certification cycle. may opt to recertify through ing the credential and the Professional Development Whereas examination and recertification fees cover ex- recertification process found Units (PDUs) or by retaking the penses directly related to those specific activities, the prin- Child Life Professional Certifi- cipal purpose of the certification maintenance fee is to in the Child Life Professional cation Examination. enable the ongoing work on behalf of CCLSs. Certification Maintenance

and Recertification Manual Newly certified or recertified CCLSs pay the first of these Individuals who become certified four payments in the calendar year immediately following the year in which the exam or who recertify in 2015 or subsequent years was passed or the year in which recertification was achieved. For example, if a CCLS and who elect the PDU option will be re- passes the exam at any of the administrations in 2019, the first certification mainte- quired to acquire 60 PDUs over the course of nance payment will be due on or before January 31, 2020. the five-year certification cycle on topics related to each of the domains of the Exam Individuals who do not pay these fees allow their certification to lapse, and are no Content Outline as well as the topic of pro- longer permitted to refer to themselves as Certified Child Life Specialists or use the fessional ethics. These are detailed in the CCLS credential. If certification lapses due to non-payment of maintenance fees, an Child Life Professional Certification Mainte- individual must re-establish eligibility under current requirements, take and pass the nance and Recertification Manual. certification examination to regain the credential.

If a CCLS does not recertify during the final Revoking the CCLS Credential year of the five-year certification cycle, certi-

fication expires. Child life professional certification may be revoked for any reason CLCC deems

appropriate, including, but not limited to, the following reasons: To regain the credential, an individual with

expired certification must re-establish eligi- • Falsification of certification materials bility under current requirements, take and • Falsification of any information requested by CLCC pass the certification examination. • Violation of the Child Life Code of Ethics • Conviction of a felony or other crime of moral turpitude relating to the pro- vision of child life services • Cheating on the examination • Failure to maintain the confidentiality of the certification examination Page 21 Child Life Code of Ethics Certified Child Life Specialists subscribe to a body of ethical principles which are in accordance with the Association of Child Life Pro- fessionals’ Child Life Mission, Values, and Vision Statements and Operating Principles and which are derived primarily for the benefit and protection of children (unless modified, children refers to infants, children and youth), and families in settings where the potential for damaging stress or trauma exists. Certified Child Life Specialists recognize that they are ethically responsible to: (1) children; (2) other professionals; (3) staff, students and volunteers who are receiving training and supervision; and (4) themselves, both personally and professionally. It is understood that ethical behavior should not result from edict but from a personal commitment on the part of the individual as a professional. In any situation, the course of action chosen is expected to be consistent with the ethical principles either stated or implied herein. All those providing child life services (including specialists, administrators, assistants, interns and students) share as a goal: (1) maximiz- ing the physical and emotional health as well as the social, cognitive and developmental abilities of children, and (2) minimizing the potential stress and trauma that children and their families may experience. These goals are best accomplished by adhering to this code of ethics. Principle 1 -- Certified Child Life Specialists hold a primary commitment to the psychosocial care of the patient and family and uphold the mission, vision, values, and operating principles of the profession. Principle 2 -- Certified Child Life Specialists have a duty to maintain objectivity, integrity, and competence, while exhibiting compassion. Principle 3 -- Certified Child Life Specialists have an obligation to maintain an environment that respects variations in culture, age, gender, race, ethnicity, physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religious affiliation, veteran status, and socioeconomic status. Principle 4 -- Certified Child Life Specialists respect the privacy of children and families and maintain confidentiality within the standards and requirements of employers, local governing regulations, or private practice standards. Principle 5 -- Certified Child Life Specialists demonstrate the competencies of the child life profession by continuous efforts to improve professional services and practices provided in the diverse settings in which they work, and in the community at large. Principle 6 -- Certified Child Life Specialists provide services within their competencies and make appropriate referrals with due regard for the professional competencies of other members of the health care team and the community within which they work. Principle 7 -- Certified Child Life Specialists respect the duties, competencies and needs of their professional colleagues and maintain the utmost integrity in all interactions with the institutions or organizations that employ them or in their private practices. Principle 8 -- Certified Child Life Specialists continually seek knowledge and skills that update and enhance their understanding of all relevant issues affecting the children and families they serve. Principle 9 -- Certified Child Life Specialists respect the conventions of scholarly inquiry and will recognize their responsibility for ethical practice in research. Principle 10 -- Certified Child Life Specialists use integrity to assess and amend any personal relationships, social media exchanges, or situations that may interfere with their professional effectiveness or objectivity, or otherwise negatively impact the children and families they serve. Child life professionals ensure the conclusion of their professional role before any personal relationship is permitted to develop with children or the members of families they have served. Principle 11 -- Certified Child Life Specialists recognize that financial gain should never take precedence over the mission, vision, values, and operating principles of the profession. Principle 12 -- Certified Child Life Specialists accountable for the supervision and training of others (e.g., staff, students, volunteers) assume responsibility for teaching ethical professional values and providing optimal learning experiences. Revised January 2020

Page 22 Child Life Professional Certification Candidate Manual Child Life Professional Certification Exam Content Outline, effective January 1, 2019 Number of questions in parentheses

Domain I: Professional Responsibility (20% - 25 questions) 1. Assessment 1. Practice within the scope of professional knowledge and 2. Plan of care clinical expertise. (8) 3. Intervention A. Establish and maintain professional boundaries. 4. Outcome/Evaluation 1. Therapeutic relationships with patients, families, B. Apply principles of adult learning to represent the child life pro- and staff. fession and/or the institution to internal and external audienc- 2. Helping professions (e.g., social work, child life, es. music therapy, etc.) 1. Speaking to individuals and groups (e.g., media, donors, B. Demonstrate knowledge of confidentiality and privacy community, higher education, healthcare professionals, and laws. students) C. Adhere to the Child Life Code of Ethics for child life 2. Integrate a variety of educational techniques (e.g. lectures, professionals. hands-on activities, use of multimedia) 1. Use of social media C. Educate others about expected reactions and responses to the 2. Identification of conflicts of interest healthcare experience using child development and family sys- 3. Personal, peer, and professional accountability tems theories, and principles of psychosocial care. 4. Continue to seek knowledge and skills related to the D. Recognize the strengths of the interdisciplinary team. healthcare environment 1. Identify opportunities for collaboration (e.g., co-treating, D. Advocate for the protection, safety, and rights of the research, etc.) child and family. 2. Recognize and initiate appropriate referrals (e.g., scope of 1. Mandated reporting practice) 2. Emotional safety 3. Safe environment Domain II: Assessment (40% - 50 questions) 4. Consent and assent 1. Identify and apply relevant healthcare data to develop a com- E. Employ knowledge of cultural fluency and provide indi- prehensive assessment and plan of care. (10) vidualized and equitable care. A. Consider the impact of diagnosis, procedures, and treatment. 2. Engage continuously in self-reflective and evaluative pro- B. Anticipate the impacts of illness, injury, and healthcare expe- fessional child life practice. (8) riences. A. Integrate self-reflective skills into daily practice (e.g., C. Predict the impact of healthcare trends, issues, and environ- awareness of biases, projection, transference, etc.) ment on stress and coping. B. Define evidence-based practice and operate under its 2. Identify and apply developmental frameworks to develop a principles. comprehensive assessment and plan of care. (13) C. Participate in activities of inquiry and integrate findings A. Assess the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional develop- into practice. ment of the child. 1. Quality improvement B. Apply developmental theories to anticipate response and 2. Research processes (e.g., data collection, evaluation, reactions to illness, injury, and healthcare experiences. literature review, knowledge translation, bench- C. Select and apply theories of child development. marking, etc.) 1. Stress, trauma, and adverse child experiences D. Initiate and seek opportunities for clinical supervision 2. Coping and professional/personal growth. 3. Temperament E. Identify methods of self-care to manage the impact of 4. Emotional health exposure to pediatric illness, injury, and healthcare 5. Resiliency (e.g., stress management, compassion fatigue, sec- 6. Attachment ondary trauma, etc.) D. Identify variables that impact a child's vulnerability to illness, 3. Collaborate and communicate effectively as a member of injury, and healthcare experiences (e.g., history of abuse, the care team. (9) physical limitations, absence of support system, etc.). A. Employ clear and objective documentation standards in accordance with workplace policy. Page 23

3. Identify and apply knowledge of family systems to develop a A. Assimilate healthcare, family, and child variables to imple- comprehensive assessment. (8) ment a plan of care that supports individualized learning A. Examine the families' norms, composition, practices, com- needs. munication styles, and preferences. 1. Preparation (e.g., teaching dolls, books, technology, medi- B. Demonstrate knowledge of family systems and family stress cal equipment, tours, etc.) adaptation theories. 2. Diagnostic teaching C. Identify how children and families interpret and make mean- 3. Coping strategies (e.g., alternative focus, deep breathing, ing of health, illness, and loss. guided imagery, integrative and expressive therapies, etc.) D. Identify the strengths and challenges in family dynamics and 4. Advocacy for pain management utilization of supports. B. Empower children and families to advocate for their needs 4. Identify and apply cultural and contextual factors to develop a related to illness, injury, and healthcare experiences. comprehensive assessment. (8) 3. Provide coping support for patient and families experiencing A. Assess and articulate comprehension of sociocultural needs loss and/or grief. (12) and learning styles. A. Anticipate the implication of trauma, loss and/or bereave- B. Describe and apply philosophies and practices of patient- ment for children and families. centered care. B. Define and distinguish palliative, hospice, and end-of-life C. Consider socioeconomic status, justice, access and equity, care. etc. when identifying the availability of community re- C. Understand and recognize cultural and spiritual preferences. sources. D. Describe developmental perceptions of and reactions to trau- D. Explore cultural and spiritual values, beliefs, and needs. ma, loss, and/or bereavement. 5. Demonstrate assessment strategies and processes. (11) E. Define and distinguish grief, bereavement, and mourning. A. Apply formal and informal techniques to assess patient/ F. Articulate types (e.g., anticipatory, complicated, etc.) and family acuity and psychosocial risk. theories (e.g., stages and tasks, etc.) of grief experienced by B. Adapt services to meet the patient/family's needs, goals, children and families and preferences. G. Provide support and resources to promote transition. C. Apply the cyclical process of assessment, plan, intervention, H. Facilitate opportunities for expression of feelings, meaning and evaluation of services. making, and legacy work. D. Collect, interpret, and integrate relevant data into psychoso- 4. Adapt child life skills to support diverse populations (e.g., gen- cial assessment and plan of care. der, sexuality, developmental differences, behavioral health, sensory and processing considerations, etc.) (4) Domain III: Intervention (40%- 50 questions) 5. Apply child life development and family systems theories to 1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and skills in play the- provide emotional support within the child life scope. (7) ories and application. (11) A. Environmental safety (e.g., playroom design, healing environ- A. Facilitate types of play relevant to illness, injury, and ment, sensory stimulation, etc.) healthcare experiences. B. Emotional safety (e.g., healthcare adherence, impact of the 1. Normalizing play healthcare plan, etc.) 2. Developmental play 6. Utilize clear and sensitive communication skills that develop 3. Healthcare play trusting relationships across the continuum. (5) 4. Therapeutic play 5. Child-directed play B. Prescribe appropriate play practices to facilitate optimal coping (e.g., relationship building, mastery, assessment, education, normalization, etc.). 2. Provide education specific to the individual needs of children and families as it applies to illness, injury, and healthcare experiences. (11) Child Life Certification Commission Clinical Experience Verification Form Effective January 2019 (revised September 2021)

The Child Life Certification Commission cannot bestow competence on individuals, but rather recognizes it. It is the responsibility of academic and clinical preparation programs to put forth competent individuals who are prepared to establish eligibility to sit for and pass the certification exam.

The purpose of this form is the verification of internship hours for the purpose of establishing eligibility for the Child Life Professional Certification Examination. The internship hours being verified should involve training and education in a manner that results in minimum, entry-level competence in each of the areas of the Child Life Professional Certification Ex- am Content Outline. All concepts and relevant skills delineated therein are required for a complete training experience.

Clinical Rotation Supervisors Internship Coordinator Clinical rotation supervisors must meet the following Internship coordinators must meet the following criteria: criteria: 1. Maintains professional child life certification throughout the 1. Maintains professional child life certification clinical training program throughout the clinical training program 2. Has a minimum of 4,000 hours paid child life clinical 2. Has a minimum of 4,000 hours paid child life experience prior to taking on the supervisory role clinical experience prior to taking on the superviso- 3. Is responsible for the educational development and guidance ry role of the applicant in the clinical setting. 3. Is responsible for the educational development and In lieu of a formal internship coordinator, a designated clinical guidance of the applicant in the clinical setting. supervisor must be named to fulfill this role and complete the

verification form. The designated individual must meet the Clinical rotation supervisors must: clinical rotation supervisor requirements. • Have daily contact with the individual, working at Internship coordinators must: least 80% of the same hours • Be responsible for oversight of internship program with • Have no dual relationships with the individual the support of the clinical rotation supervisors. (family member, spouse, friend, etc.) • Work with the clinical rotation supervisors to educate, • Arrange for alternate supervision of the individual evaluate, mentor, and coach interns by another qualified CCLS in their absence • Ensure educational opportunities for interns are available • Model for and then observe the individual to help them gain knowledge and experience in relation to demonstrating a minimum, entry-level compe- the Exam Content Outline tence • Serve as a liaison between the child life department and • Directly observe the individual in order to academic institutions, where applicable monitor and evaluate performance • Schedule private, weekly, formal, uninterrupted supervision • Schedule private, weekly, formal, and meetings with the individual uninterrupted supervision meetings with the indi- • Provide intern with the Clinical Experience Verification vidual Form at the completion of the internship

Important Notes

 Candidates are permitted to accrue the required clinical hours at more than one institution. This form must be completed by each institution.  Candidates are required to complete some of the required hours in a hospital setting. There is no minimum.  Candidates submitting this form who completed the internship with remote supervision must have previously obtained authorization through the Extenuating Circumstances Policy. The internship coordinator must indicate on this form that remote supervision was approved.  Photocopies of the original form are accepted as documentation when establishing eligibility for the exam.  Exam candidates are encouraged to keep a copy of this form for their records.

Instructions

Complete the requested information on the following page and submit by upload to the applicant’s record, fax to 571-483- 4482, scan/email to [email protected] or mail to:

Association of Child Life Professionals 7600 Leesburg Pike West Ste 200 Falls Church, VA 22043 Applicant Name Institution Name

CLCC-Approved Remote Supervision Yes or No (circle one)

Clinical Rotation Supervisor 1 Name (printed) ______CCLS #______Dates of supervision from______to______

By signing this form, the clinical rotation supervisor attests to meeting the supervisor requirements and directly observing the intern successfully perform or be trained in the skills identified on the Exam Content Outline.

Signature______Date______

Clinical Rotation Supervisor 2 Name (printed) ______CCLS #______Dates of supervision from______to______

Signature______Date______

Clinical Rotation Supervisor 3 Name (printed) ______CCLS #______Dates of supervision from______to______

Signature______Date______

Internship Coordinator or Designated Individual Name (printed) ______CCLS #______

Interns must be trained on all items on the Exam Content Outline by one of the following: clinical rotation supervisor or internship coordinator. By signing this form, the coordinator (or designated individual) attests that they meet the internship coordinator requirements and that all these elements were included in the training experience. By stating that the applicant exhibits minimum, entry-level competence, you attest that they have been adequately trained relevant to the Exam Content Outline, supervised by an appropriately-qualified CCLSs, and during this period, the applicant has demonstrated minimum, entry-level competence in all areas of the Exam Content Outline: (Check one) Yes No

Start Date ______End Date ______Number of Hours Completed ______

Signature______Date______Child Life Certification Commission Child Life Course Verification Form Effective September 2021 The required child life course(s)* must have a focus on Notes: children in the health care environment and must be  To be accepted, courses MUST be taken for college cred- taught by a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) who: it (non-credit/audited courses are not accepted) AND be

taken at an academic institution that has been accredit- • Maintains the CCLS credential throughout the period of ed by an organization recognized by either the US De- instruction partment of Education or the Council on Higher Educa- tion Accreditation or the international equivalent • Has a minimum of 4,000 hours of paid child life clinical  Candidates MUST submit an official transcript docu- experience OR a minimum of 2 years of experience menting that a passing grade was achieved. teaching child life subject matter**  Courses may be taken either in-person or online.  There is no minimum number of credit hours per course. • Maintains knowledge of the Child Life Code of Ethics and  Photocopies are accepted. the Official Documents of the Association of Child Life  Students should keep a copy of this form for their rec- Professionals ords.  When complete, submit this form by fax to 571-483- • Pursues training relevant to adult learning styles and evi- 4482, email to [email protected], or mail to: dence-based teaching methodology ACLP 7600 Leesburg Pike West, Ste 200, Falls Church, VA 22043

The following required topics of study were/were not NOT covered in this course: (Please check the appropriate box next to each of the topics below) Covered Covered

1. Child Life Documents-Official Documents of ACLP including the Child Life Code of Ethics, Child Life Compe- Y N tencies, and Standards of Clinical Practice, the Child Life Mission, Values and Vision Statements, 2. Scope of practice – The spectrum of child life practice in direct and non-direct services in pediatric health care including a historical review of the profession and its development in the evolution of children’s healthcare. Y N 3. Impact of illness, injury and health care on patients and families – Stressors and developmental and psychosocial treatment issues that affect the health care experience of a “child and family” including siblings Y N within the context of developmental theory 4. Family-Centered Care– Principles of patient-/family-centered care, including principles of respect and digni- ty, information sharing, supporting participation in care, and collaboration in relationship to child life practice. Y N

5. Therapeutic play– Elements/benefits of play, and various therapeutic play modalities for the clinical setting. Y N 6. Preparation– Historical/current perspectives on the rationale for, and techniques/outcomes of preparation, as well as accepted preparation methods for healthcare encounters and life-changing events. Y N

By signing this form you attest that all conditions set forth above have been met and the indicated areas of instruction were delivered by a CCLS to the student named below. Student Name Course Name

Academic Institution Semester/Year

CCLS Instructor Name Certification #

CCLS Instructor Signature Date *Academic programs may choose to provide coverage of these six topics in more than one course as long as each course covering the areas is taught by a CCLS. In such cases, a Child Life Course Verification Form must be submitted for each course, providing confirmation that the applicant received instruction from a CCLS in each of the required topics of study. **CCLS must be able to demonstrate that the two years of teaching experience was completed prior to 2022. Beginning in 2022, those without prior teaching experiences who wish to initiate a child life course will only be considered qualified if they have a minimum of 4,000 hours of paid child life clinical experience